Reuben or Eden

[Orangeecats]

Baby boy due in 2 weeks! Can’t decide on the name - we like uncommon names and have managed to short list it to Eden and Reuben. Any thoughts?

Eden's more generally associated with girls, unless you're Jewish in which case it's fairly unisex, although probably more associated with girls overall.

I think of Reuben as a fairly popular name, but maybe just because I'm Jewish! It is a lovely name, though.

I very much think of Eden as a girls name, and have only ever met female Eden’s. I really wouldn’t pick that for a boy, unfortunately it could lead to teasing at school.

Reuben is quite popular at the moment. Met quite a few little Reuben’s. Not a bad name but I wouldn’t say it’s uncommon, quite the opposite.

I’d consider Eden to be a girls name as well.

I also don’t think Rueben is that uncommon, but it’s a nice name.

Eden I know 4 - all girls. Rueben is lovely

Is Reuben really that popular damn that’s annoying! My other son has a really uncommon name so I do want them to match.

I love Eden I don’t know why I’ve always thought of it as a boys name! And no not Jewish!

Reuben is popular, but not everywhere. As the mum of a Reuben, the worst part of the name (as you can see already a few posts in) is that people cannot spell it! We get Rueben, Ruben, Ruban and Rubin more frequently than correct spelling (including from school). If your surname requires any thought to spell then I'd avoid.

Although you might be less irritated by it than me 😁

It's hard to tell without any official ONS data since 2021 but Reuben does seem to be rapidly rising (as are many Old Testament boys names right now, it's a popular trend). I know of 3 born last year. it was 36th in the 2021 stats for England and Wales. At a guess, from my experience, I'd say it must be higher than that now. Maybe top 25-30ish?

I love Eden for a girl but find it much too feminine for a boy.

I would go for Reuben, but popularity has never bothered me.

I like Eden for either, I think it is fairly gender nuetral but also depends if you’re religious - I’m not so doesn’t feel too lofty

The male spelling of Eden is Edan - it's my son's middle name

Reuben is lovely name.

Eden I only know as a girls name.

A few Reuben's in my area. Eden usually girls. Reuben is a great name.

Reuben is pretty common. It used to be primarily a Jewish name but has become more mainstream. There seem to be lots of them about. I quite like Eden but I associate it with girls.

I think Eden is more unisex.
Not sure if that would put you off.
Agree that people will misspell Reuben. That might not bother you.

You are not going to get a completely unique babe unless you go for something totally silly.
Remember most people are giving their dcs unique names now, so everything will be more common that if once was.
I’ve come across both Ruebens and Edens.
I’ve come across people with the most unlikely of names.

Reuben. Unless it’s a surprise girl, then Eden! I know more girl Edens than I know boy Reubens so I don’t think it’s THAT popular. But then these things are weird sometimes. The repeated names in my kid’s classes are not the ones you’d expect.

Auto correct: name not babe.

Reuben. But I'm biased as I have one and still think it's a lovely name. It wasn't popular when I named him (he's 20) but there's more around now.

I've know male and female Edens, but still think of it as mainly a girls name (could be because the one I know best is a girl)

Rueben is a great name. Eden is loaded and a girl's name.

Eben? Less common than Reuben and more of a boys name than Eden.

I love Reuben.

I have an Eden (boy). It's definitely a unisex name. I know two other male Edens and one female.

I know a male Eden.

EDEN.

Definitely a unisex name. I considered this for my boy in 2017 - I still wish I'd used it!!! I think it's so lovely for a boy.

Like the name Reuben - know quite a few.

The Edens I have encountered have been female. Was unaware it was a unisex name.

Have you another name in reserve?? Difficult choosing isn’t it? Mine didn’t get their names until the sixth week (when legal registration was due).

We were meant on too much by family. I think it might have been better for us, in retrospect, to name baby before we left hospital like Americans do.

Congratulations, hope it all goes well x

I prefer Ruben.